Fremantle skipper Alex Pearce to miss a fourth consecutive game as former captain Nat Fyfe set for WAFL return
It comes as dual Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe is set to suit up in the WAFL once again this season when Peel Thunder take on Claremont at Revo Fitness Stadium as he works his way back from a calf injury.
Pearce was listed as a test to take on the Blues, having suited up just once since round 11 because of a hot spot in his shin which has derailed his season.
However, the 30-year-old won't return despite training strongly on Wednesday and pushing to play as the Dockers look to cement themselves in the top eight and finals for the first time since 2022.
It is believed Pearce is unlikely to play in the WAFL for the Thunder, while Fyfe is set to suit up for Peel for the second time the fifth time this year having played three pre-season games as well as a league game in round two — when he sustained a hamstring strain.
Fremantle have so far only added midfielder Will Brodie, defender Brandon Walker and key defender Josh Draper to an extended bench from the side that defeated West Coast by 49 points in the western derby at the weekend.
Brodie is a chance to play his first AFL game since round seven, 2023 after racking up 41 touches and a goal in a win against West Coast's WAFL side on Sunday.
Walker has been unable to force his way back into Fremantle's side after he injured his shoulder in the round two defeat to Sydney, while Josh Draper last played in round 15 against Essendon.
Carlton will be forced to make at least three changes after the club revealed key spearhead Charlie Curnow would miss the rest of the season after he had minor knee surgery to fix a problem which developed after last week's loss to Hawthorn.
Former Docker Adam Cerra will also miss with injury, while veteran Sam Docherty has retired.
The Blues have named six potential inclusions in Francis Evans, Lewis Young, Flynn Young, Jaxon Binns, Jordan Boyd and Hudson O'Keefe.
Fremantle v Carlton
Sunday, Optus Stadium, 3.10pm
DOCKERS
B: L Ryan B Cox O McDonald
HB: H Chapman K Worner J Clark
C: J O'Meara H Young N O'Driscoll
HF: S Switkowski P Voss S Bolton
F: M Frederick J Treacy J Amiss
FOLL: L Jackson C Serong A Brayshaw
I/C: S Darcy M Reid W Brodie B Banfield N Erasmus B Walker I Dudley J Draper
IN: W Brodie B Walker J Draper
BLUES
B: A Saad J Weitering M Carroll
HB: L Cowan H O'Farrell N Haynes
C: B Acres P Cripps C Lord
HF: Z Williams J Motlop O Hollands
F: L Fogarty H McKay W White
FOLL: T De Koning G Hewett A Moir
I/C: M Pittonet F Young L Young F Evans C Durdin J Binns J Boyd H O'Keeffe
IN: F Young L Young F Evans J Binns J Boyd H O'Keeffe
OUT: S Docherty (retired) C Curnow A Cerra (both injured)
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The Advertiser
9 hours ago
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Hawthorn stalwart Jack Gunston booted four goals and Jack Ginnivan (19 disposals) scored two. Hawk duo Massimo D'Ambrosio (25 possessions) and Karl Amon (23) were standouts and skipper James Sicily ruled the air with 11 marks. In a wildly fluctuating fixture, Hawthorn raced to a 32-point lead - 5.3 to 0.1 - late in the first quarter. The Crows hit back with 6.6 to nothing in the second term for a 16-point halftime advantage. Adelaide went 18 points clear before a steely response from the Hawks: six of the next seven goals for an eight-point edge at the final change. The Crows logged three consecutive goals to jump 12 points up before two strikes from Gunston, both from holding free kicks, put the Hawks one point ahead. Adelaide rallied with the final three goals of the game, with Walker's last two long bombs sending the sell-out crowd into raptures. Coach Matthew Nicks is hailing Adelaide's character in a comeback 14-point win over Hawthorn which returns the Crows to top of the AFL ladder. The Crows kicked six goals to two in the last quarter for a gutsy 15.11 (101) to 13.9 (87) triumph in a Friday night thriller. Adelaide slipped 32 points down late in the first term before a sell-out 50,654-strong crowd at Adelaide Oval. They recovered to take the lead, only to lose it and trail by eight points at three-quarter time. The Crows, with stars Izak Rankine and Taylor Walker kicking two goals each in a final term, then finished with a flourish. Walker converted two long-range set shots to seal victory - he kicked three goals for the game, as did Rankine, while spearhead Riley Thilthorpe booted four. "There was a lot of pressure coming in - massive, massive stage," Nicks said. "And then to start the way we did, the pressure went through the roof. 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Hawthorn stalwart Jack Gunston booted four goals and Jack Ginnivan (19 disposals) scored two. Hawk duo Massimo D'Ambrosio (25 possessions) and Karl Amon (23) were standouts and skipper James Sicily ruled the air with 11 marks. In a wildly fluctuating fixture, Hawthorn raced to a 32-point lead - 5.3 to 0.1 - late in the first quarter. The Crows hit back with 6.6 to nothing in the second term for a 16-point halftime advantage. Adelaide went 18 points clear before a steely response from the Hawks: six of the next seven goals for an eight-point edge at the final change. The Crows logged three consecutive goals to jump 12 points up before two strikes from Gunston, both from holding free kicks, put the Hawks one point ahead. Adelaide rallied with the final three goals of the game, with Walker's last two long bombs sending the sell-out crowd into raptures. Coach Matthew Nicks is hailing Adelaide's character in a comeback 14-point win over Hawthorn which returns the Crows to top of the AFL ladder. The Crows kicked six goals to two in the last quarter for a gutsy 15.11 (101) to 13.9 (87) triumph in a Friday night thriller. Adelaide slipped 32 points down late in the first term before a sell-out 50,654-strong crowd at Adelaide Oval. They recovered to take the lead, only to lose it and trail by eight points at three-quarter time. The Crows, with stars Izak Rankine and Taylor Walker kicking two goals each in a final term, then finished with a flourish. Walker converted two long-range set shots to seal victory - he kicked three goals for the game, as did Rankine, while spearhead Riley Thilthorpe booted four. "There was a lot of pressure coming in - massive, massive stage," Nicks said. "And then to start the way we did, the pressure went through the roof. "To reset the way we did, the maturity our boys showed ... it was another way to win in what was a finals atmosphere." Adelaide sit top with a 15-5 win-loss record but Collingwood will reclaim pole position with a victory over Brisbane on Saturday night. Hawthorn (13-7) remain fifth - only a win ahead of ninth spot - with fresh concern over injury-troubled midfielder Will Day, who limped from the field late on. "I don't have an answer yet," Hawks coach Sam Mitchell said of Day's condition. "He was cramping, he had ice on most parts of his lower body, as plenty of the players do, so unsure just yet." The Crows were superbly served by Irish-born defender Mark Keane (21 disposals, six marks), halfback Wayne Milera (19 touches) and winger Dan Curtin (20, six inside 50s). Attacking trio Thilthorpe, Rankine and Walker were ever-present threats while captain Jordan Dawson (21 disposals, 11 tackles) kicked two team-lifting goals in five minutes. 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West Australian
15 hours ago
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Where Fremantle Dockers' finals hopes sit ahead of clash with Carlton Blues
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Perth Now
20 hours ago
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Fast-finishing Adelaide pip Hawthorn in AFL thriller
Izak Rankine has helped the Crows overcome Hawthorn in Adelaide to go top of the ladder. (Matt Turner/AAP PHOTOS) Izak Rankine has helped the Crows overcome Hawthorn in Adelaide to go top of the ladder. (Matt Turner/AAP PHOTOS) Credit: AAP Adelaide spearhead Riley Thilthorpe has slotted four goals in a comeback 14-point win over Hawthorn which returns them to top of the AFL ladder. The fast-finishing Crows kicked six goals to two in the last quarter for a gutsy 15.11 (101) to 13.9 (87) triumph in a Friday night thriller. The Crows slipped 32 points down late in the first term before a sell-out 50,654-strong crowd at Adelaide Oval. They recovered to take the lead, only to lose it and trail by eight points at three-quarter time. The Crows, with stars Izak Rankine and Taylor Walker kicking two goals each in a final term, then finished with a flourish. Walker converted two long-range set shots to seal victory - he kicked three goals for the game, as did Rankine. Adelaide sit top with a 15-5 win-loss record but Collingwood could reclaim pole position with a victory over the Brisbane Lions on Saturday night. Hawthorn (13-7) remain in fifth - only a win ahead of ninth spot - and hold fresh concern over influential midfielder Will Day, who limped from the field late. The Hawks were gallant but ultimately overpowered by the Crows who were well-served by Irish-born defender Mark Keane (21 disposals, six marks), halfback Wayne Milera (19 touches) and winger Dan Curtin (20). Key forward Thilthorpe's four-goal haul was complemented by Rankine and Walker while captain Jordan Dawson kicked two majors from his 21 disposals. Hawthorn stalwart Jack Gunston booted four goals and Jack Ginnivan (19 disposals) two. Hawk duo Massimo D'Ambrosio (25 possessions) and Karl Amon (23) were standouts and skipper James Sicily dominated in the air with 11 marks. In a wildly fluctuating fixture, Hawthorn raced to a 32-point lead late in the first quarter. The Crows hit back with 6.6 to nothing in the second term for a 16-point advantage at halftime. Adelaide went 18 points up before a steely response from the Hawks returned six of the next seven goals as the visitors edged eight points clear at the final change. The Crows then jumped 12 points up before two goals from Gunston, both from holding free kicks, out the Hawks one point up. Adelaide responded with the last three goals of the game, with Walker's two long bombs sending the sell-out crowd into raptures.
